The indeterminacy of translation bibliography philpapers. The indeterminacy of translation is a thesis propounded by 20thcentury american analytic philosopher w. Davidsons suggested reading of quines indeterminacy arguments seems to be intended to block any such sceptical consequences. According to quine s thesis of the indeterminacy of translation there are no facts of matter which could determine the choice between two or more incompatible translation schemes which are in accordance with all behavioral evidence.
Pdf new perspectives on quines word and object researchgate. Kirk on quine s reasons for indeterminacy of translation. For quine, the indeterminacy of translation has considerable ontological consequences, construed as leading to a sceptical conclusion regarding the existence of finegrained meaning facts. In acquiring it we have to depend on intersubjectively available cues as to what to say and when. What makes quine distinctive is not his starting point, but where he ends up.
This chapter offers some initial reflections on the content and implications of the indeterminacy thesis, and of the presuppositions that quine makes in treating it as a stepping. More on quine s reasons for indeterminacy of translation. Mcdonnell distinguished university professor of philosophy at princeton university. Willard van orman quine stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Quines philosophy, and much of his research shows quines influence, including thought 1973, change in view 1986 and reasoning, meaning, and mind 1999. Indeterminacy of translation the indeterminacy of translation of sentences. Though linguistics is of course a part of the theory of nature, the indeterminacy of translation is not just inherited as a special case of. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link page.
Interdeterminacy of translation means that the translation you come up with depends on the process of translation, as well as the intended underlying semantics of the speaker. Request pdf indeterminacy of translation peter hylton. The eleven essays in this volume cover all the central topics of w. That is, the translation result and translation process determine eac. It is unquestionably among the best known and most disputed theses in contemporary philosophy. Their arguments will lead us to an examination of the current status of translation as it is practiced by actual translators.
There is no distinctively philosophical standpoint outside this system. By close textual analysis of quines argument it will be shown that innate constraints on learning cannot be used as a way of overcoming the indeterminacy of translation argument unless there was a further argument that proves that these purported innate constraints cannot be modified as we learn more about reality. Abstractthis paper aims to analyze quines major theories of indeterminacy of meaning and inscrutability of reference by their definition and appearance, then. According to quines thesis of the indeterminacy of translation there are no facts of matter which could determine the choice between two or more incompatible translation schemes which are in accordance with all.
The analysis is put for ward in support of a general conclusion concerning the process of translation. Along with the holophrastic indeterminacy, the inscrutability of reference is the second kind of indeterminacy that makes up quines thesis about the indeterminacy of radical translation. Indeterminacy of translation and analyticity indeterminacy of translation and analyticity harris, james f. The indeterminacy of translation is a thesis propounded by 20thcentury american analytic. In acquiring it we have to depend entirely on online download word and object willard van orman quine word and object willard van orman quine one day, you will discover a new adventure and knowledge by spending quine on meaning. What is meant by quines interdeterminacy of translation. View notes quine study guide fall 2016 from philosophy at university of missouri. He is also editor of semantics of natural language with donald davidson, 1970 and the logic of grammar 1975. Quines argument for the indeterminacy of translation seems open to two parity objections. Indeterminacy of translation and the problem of explicating. The indeterminacy of translation and the inscrutability of reference 323 compatible with d, there is a theory t, incompatible with t, that is equally well supported by d. I will then examine 2 recent arguments against indeterminacy.
The indeterminacy of translation invests even the question what objects to construe a term as true of. Willard van orman quine 19082000 worked in theoretical philosophy and in logic. The first one is a natural misunderstanding due to chomsky quines empirical assumptions in davidson and hintikka, eds. On how to avoid the indeterminacy of translation deepdyve. The best way to understand quines thesis of the indeterminacy of translation is via the naturalistic empiricism that motivates it. Davidson has always been explicit in his faithful adherence to the main doctrines of quine s philosophy of language, among which the indeterminacy of translation thesis is significant. However, as i argue in the final section, such a thoroughgoing eliminativism would threaten the cogency of the reasoning which originally led quine to the indeterminacy thesis. Apart from the indeterminacy of meaning, the inscrutability of reference is another factor leading to the it thesis. One obvious response is that this begs the question. Gaudet dissipates the confusion by examining afresh quine s whole concept of a fact of the matter, and evaluating the contributions to the debate by chomsky, rorty, friedman, gibson and follesdal in the light of her new interpretation. Ontological relativity and other essays download ebook pdf. Quine s philosophy of language, among which the indeterminacy of translation thesis is significant. Spanish pdf article in xml format article references how to cite this article automatic translation send this article by email. In quines view, the indeterminacy of translation leads to the inability to separate.
One of quines central doctrines is the indeterminacy of translation the assertion that there is no objective answer to the question of what someone means by any given sentence. In acquiring it we have to depend entirely on online download word and object willard van orman quine word and object willard van orman quine one day, you will discover a new adventure and knowledge by spending quine on meaning download quine on meaning or read. Some philosophers hold that the idea of indeterminacy is absurd, or that it amounts to an extreme form of scepticism about whether we ever understand one another, or whether correct translation is possible at all. The reasons he holds this view all seem to have in common a certain aspect. We use cookies to offer you a better experience, personalize content, tailor advertising, provide social media features, and better understand the use of our services.
Ontological relativity and other essays download ebook. In thinking about the world, we must begin where we are. Intended to clarify the meaning of the philosophical doctrines propounded by w. In acquiring it we have to depend on intersubjectively available cues. Quinean indeterminacy requires becoming a true eliminativist regarding ordinary translation practices. Epistemologia naturalizada quine pdf sobre quine e sua epistemologia. That there are important similarities between quines theses of indeterminacy of translation and inscrutability of reference and kripkes interpretation of w. Indeterminacy of translationone can never perfectly translate a word or phraseinscrutability of reference. Quine says in pursuit of truth that the meaning of a sentence of one language is what it shares in its translations with. Differences and similarities between kuhn and quine about the indeterminacy of translation. Quines arguments for indeterminacy belong firmly to the tradition of logical empiricism. Quine, on the reasons for indeterminacy of translation. Second, there is the set of states that consist in a creature believing something true period.
That conclusion, quines doctrine of translational indeterminacy, is that although there are indeed empirical constraints on translation manuals, they are slack constraints and always admit conflicting manu als. Specifically, and as is evident in the work of cognitive ethologists in particularthat is, those whose job it is to study intelligent animal behaviorwhat emerges is an essentially reliabilist picture of knowledge. Quine s argument for the indeterminacy of translation seems open to two parity objections. This is the first book devoted to a defence of quines indeterminacy of translation doctrine. Quines indeterminacy thesis 275 radical translation when we use words or language as a social instrument to respond to the world, it is important to examine what status meaning takes in such a process.
Willard van orman quine 19082000 held the edgar pierce chair of philosophy at harvarduniversity from 1956 to 2000. For quine, the indeterminacy of translation has considerable ontological consequences, construed as leading to a sceptical conclusion regarding the existence of. In this essay, i will show that the indeterminacy of translation does indeed apply to the translation of the truthfunctional connectives. Indeterminacy of translationtheory and practice dorit bar. Along with the holophrastic indeterminacy, the inscrutability of reference is the second kind of indeterminacy that makes up quine s thesis about the indeterminacy of radical translation. Quines indeterminacy of translation thesis semantic scholar. The classic statement of this thesis can be found in his 1960 book word and object, which gathered together and refined much of quines previous work on subjects other than formal logic and set theory. One of quine s central doctrines is the indeterminacy of translation the assertion that there is no objective answer to the question of what someone means by any given sentence. The indeterminacy of translation and the inscrutability of. In practical philosophyethics and political philosophyhis contributions are negligible. That conclusion, quine s doctrine of translational indeterminacy, is that although there are indeed empirical constraints on translation manuals, they are slack constraints and always admit conflicting manu als.
Physicalism and the indeterminacy of translation 355 often referred to passage from his reply to chomsky in words and objections, quine says. There exists a multiplicity of translations of any sentence from one language into another, each of which is equally consistent with subjects dispositions to verbal behavior and any other relevant. For quine, the indeterminacy of translation has considerable ontological consequences, construed as. Kirk on quines reasons for indeterminacy of translation.
Index termsquine, indeterminacy of translation, indeterminacy of meaning, inscrutability of reference i. This is the first book devoted to a defence of quine s indeterminacy of translation doctrine. A sentence may be correctly translated in multiple ways with different meanings. Quines whole concept of a fact of the matter, and evaluating the contributions to the debate by chomsky, rorty, friedman, gibson and follesdal in the light of her new interpretation.
He is perhaps best known for his arguments against logical empiricism in particular, against its use of the analyticsynthetic distinction. This view was first put forward in word and object and was shocking enough to draw criticisms from other leading philosophers like noam chomsky and richard rorty. At various points in the book i have been helped also by advice and. As patricia smith churchland notes in her foreword to this new edition, with word and object quine challenged the tradition of.
For quine, the indeterminacy of translation has considerable ontological consequences, construed as leading to a sceptical conclusion regarding the existence. Pdf this paper readdresses quines indeterminacy of translationinscrutability of reference thesis, as a problem for cognitive theories of. It is very tempting, of course, to apply a little reflexivity and deny that there is any determinate thesis of indeterminacy of translation. On how to avoid the indeterminacy of translation on how to avoid the indeterminacy of translation raatikainen, panu 20050901 00. The irt is a thesis about relationships among languages in which. Sep 01, 2005 quinea s thesis of the indeterminacy of translation has puzzled the philosophical community for several decades. Quine, speaking of objects and translation and meaning from word and object. Quinea s classical argument for the indeterminacy thesis, in his seminal work word and object, has even been described by putnam as a what may well be the most fascinating and the most.
Quines contention that translation is indeterminate has been among the most widely discussed and controversial theses in modern analytical philosophy. Philosophy stack exchange is a question and answer site for those interested in the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. Brahm university of nebraska in word and object, quine sets forth and defends the thesis of the indeterminacy of translation. May 17, 2012 interdeterminacy of translation means that the translation you come up with depends on the process of translation, as well as the intended underlying semantics of the speaker. Willard van orman quine begins this influential work by declaring, language is a social art. To say that gavagai denotes rabbits, quine insists, is to opt for a manual of translation in which gavagai is translated as rabbit, instead of any of the alternative. While the inscrutability of reference concerns itself with single words, quine does not want it to be used for propositions, as he attacks those in another. Through the examination of quine s argumentation, it is very clear that the inscrutability of reference originates in translation by the behavioral evidences.
Quine held that the meaning of words was indeterminate. Pdf on may 1, 2012, francesca ervas and others published new perspectives on quines word and object. Physicalism and the indeterminacy of translation fewd. Parts of the sentence may change in what they reference, but they will nonetheless maintain the meaning of the sentence as a whole. More on quines reasons for indeterminacy of translation. Quine has contributed fundamentally to the substance, the pedagogy, and the philosophy of mathematical logic. Quine in word and objects, the essays included herein are intimately related and concern. Considered one the most influential philosophers of the twentiethcentury, he is the author of mathematical logic, the roots of reference, the time of mylife. How to delete all lines in a text file which has less than x characters.
He is also editor of semantics of natural language. Quines thesis of the indeterminacy of translation is probably the most well known and most widely discussed thesis in contemporary philosophy. How would quines theory of indeterminacy of translation. For quine, the indeterminacy of translation has considerable. In acquiring it we have to depend entirely on intersubjectively available cues as to what to say and when.
Introduction in the preface to world and object wo, quine claims that language is social art. Indeterminacy of translationtheory and practice dorit. Indeterminacy of translation one can never perfectly translate a word or phraseinscrutability of reference. Bolton in wvord and object professor quine formulated his principle of indeterminacy of translation as follows. Linguistic behaviour is a natural phenomenon to be understood by the methods that we apply to other natural phenomena like stars, rivers and animals.
868 28 688 1240 719 659 139 306 621 1233 201 359 1473 360 1012 1128 1174 1221 1371 854 1073 786 818 931 888 736 600 1027 1107 1161 1494